1. My second book on धर्म जिज्ञासा Part II - HISOTRY AND PRACTICE OF DHARMA. Here it is!
2. काल काल is time usually referred to an era in relative term. In absolute term it is the same as PraaNa as both move any by this motion it sustains life. Thus काल is synonymous with VishNu the preserver. Brahma rises and falls into VishNu.
3. VishNu rises and falls into Rudra because Rudra is the destroyer. When Rudra goes into sleep everything including time becomes non-existence and when he wakes up everything springs back into life.
4. According to our PuraNas Brahma has a life of 100 years of 360 days a year. His day is reconed as a Kalpa. So his life is equal to 311.o4 trillion human years.
5. A Kalpa thus consists of a day of Brahma consisting of 4.32 billion years with night as long as the day however there is no way to measure the length of his night as nothing would exist in the night termed as Pralaya.
6. In this 4.32 billion years of Brahma’s single day there arise 14 manvantaras plus 15 sandhyas. Sandhya (or juncture) exists before as also after a Manvantara, so it will be two half Sandhyas of 1.728 million years of
7. partial creation and 1.728 million years of partial destruction. 8. Each Manvantara last 306.72 million years (or 71 Divya-Yugas). Each Divya-Yuga consists of 4 yugas called Satya Yuga lasting 1.728 million years (which is 4 times as long as Kali Yuga),
9. Treta Yuga lasting 1.296 million years (which is 3 times as long as Kali Yuga), Dvaapara Yuga lasting 864,000 years (which is 2 times as long as Kali Yuga) and finally Kali Yuga that lasts 432,000 years.
10. Manvantara stands for Manu the progenitor and antara meaning distance. Brahma creates a Manu to rule each Manvantara and his life span consists of the life span of mankind that belongs to his era.
11. The 14 Manvantaras are Svayambhuva, Svarocisa, Uttama, Tamasa, Raivata, Caksusu, Vaivasvata, Savarni, Daksha-Savarni, Bramha-Savarni, Dharma-Savarni, Rudra-Savarni, Ruchi-Savarni and Bhouma-Savarni.
12. At present we are in the seventh Manvantara called Vaivasvata, so there are seven more to come. 13. The first phase of the formation of solar system was preceded by a long night of 4320 million years. There was nothing but complete darkness.
14. This long night ended after the rise of a huge nebula and the nebula had a bright twilight which was circular or disc shaped.
15. All the self-generating activities began along with this revolving nebula. Hence, the first manvatara was named as Svayambhuva which means self-generating.
16. In this stage, formation of Sun took place and the nebula got completely heated up and was burning. This nebula became a hot mass which was immensely shiny and eventually it developed to become our present sun.
17. Hence the name Svarocisa literally means ‘pertaining to be shining’. Svarocisa is the second Manvantara.
18. In Uttama the third Manvantara the Sun became a full-fledged star in this Manvantara. It reached the optimum size and had enough energy and heat to maintain its family of planets.
19. Sun was now the chief or the main authority. Hence this Manvantara was named Uttama which means ‘highest position’. 20. Tamasa is the name of the fourth Manvantara. Tamasa means darkness. This Manvantara has been described as the era of darkness, hence the name, Tamasa.
21. This is the stage when the formation of earth took place. Earth which was a burning mass became cool and solidified. The day and night formation took place and eclipse phenomenon also began at this stage.
22. During Raivata the Fifth Manvantara the Earth was completely covered by a thick mass of dark clouds and turned it into a dark planet. Earth faced continuous heavy rainfall for millions of years due to the thick mass of dark clouds. Earth became a huge ball of water.
23 Later the earth crested and started floating. And upon it came the formation of rivers, oceans, mountains and land forms. 24. Caksusu is the Sixth Manvantara At this stage, traces of emerging life was noted everywhere on the earth.
25. Incessant rainfall at regular intervals led to formation of life in and around the oceans, mountains and other land forms. Caksus in Sanskrit means ‘pertaining to eye’ and this Manvantara was named caksusu since all the emerging life had eyes.
26. Vaivasvata is the Seventh Manvantara. The seventh mavantara is the present phase in the evolution of solar system. This manvatara refers to emergence of man. The word ‘Vaivasvata’ means Sun.
27. According to Indian history, the solar dynasty or the Surya Vamsha was the first and one of the ancient dynasties known. Puranas tell that man emerged 120 million years ago.
28. The future manvantaras peep into a prediction of end of life and dissolution of earth and the Sun.
29. It is said that dissolution of sun takes place after 2347 million years after which all the land forms, oceans, mountains will go dry and the earth would completely get burnt and shattered.
30. Manvantara is a Sanskrit word in which ‘Manu’ means ‘Progenitor of mankind’ and ‘Antara’ means ‘distance’. Literally Manvantara means the total duration of mankind or life span of man. So, it means that each Manvantara is ruled by Manu created by Brahma.
31. It is said that Manu creates the world and other species in the given ‘Antara’ or duration. 32. ‘Kalpa’ is referred to a day of Brahma, takes 14 Manvantaras to create one Kalpa according to the Vedic science.
33. And after every kalpa there is dissolution or ‘pralaya’ wherein all the life comes to state of rest. This period is known as ‘Night of Bramha’. One day and night of Brahma is said to be equal to 4320 million years each.
34. There are many theories regarding the evolution of Solar system. These theories can be broadly classified into two categories, namely:- 35. Theories which support gradual evolution. Theories with hypothetical meeting of sun with a distant star.
36. 14 Manvantaras together form a day of Brahma. The 14 Manvantaras are Svayambhuva, Svarocisa, Uttama, Tamasa, Raivata, Caksusu, Vaivasvata, Savarni, Daksha-Savarni, Bramha-Savarni, Dharma-Savarni, Rudra-Savarni, Ruchi-Savarni and Bhouma-Savarni.
37. At present we are in the seventh Manvantara, so there are seven more to come. 38. Each Manvantara represents the different stages of formation of Solar system.
39. Svayambhuva- First Maanvantara The first phase of the formation of solar system was preceded by a long night of 4320 million years. There was nothing but complete darkness.
40. This long night ended after the rise of a huge nebula and the nebula had a bright twilight which was circular or disc shaped.
41. All the self-generating activities began along with this revolving nebula. Hence, the first manvatara was named as Svayambhuva which means self-generating.
42. Svarocisa- Second Manvantara In this stage, formation of Sun took place and the nebula got completely heated up and was burning. This nebula became a hot mass which was immensely shiny and eventually it developed to become our present sun.
43. Hence the name Svarocisa literally means ‘pertaining to be shining’. 44. Uttama- Third Manvantara The Sun became a full-fledged star in this Manvantara. It reached the optimum size and had enough energy and heat to maintain its family of planets.
45. Sun was now the chief or the main authority. Hence this Manvantara was named Uttama which means ‘highest position’. 46. Tamasa- Fourth Manvantara Tamasa means darkness. This Manvantara has been described as the era of darkness, hence the name, Tamasa.
47. This is the stage when the formation of earth took place. Earth which was a burning mass became cool and solidified. The day and night formation took place and eclipse phenomenon also began at this stage.
48. Raivata- Fifth Manvantara In this stage, Earth was completely covered by a thick mass of dark clouds and turned it into a dark planet. Earth faced continuous heavy rainfall for millions of years due to the thick mass of dark clouds.
49. It further led to the formation of rivers, oceans, mountains and land forms.
50. Caksusu- Sixth Manvantara At this stage, traces of emerging life was noted everywhere on the earth. Incessant rainfall at regular intervals led to formation of life in and around the oceans, mountains and other land forms.
51. Caksus in Sanskrit means ‘pertaining to eye’ and this Manvantara was named caksusu since all the emerging life had eyes. 52. Vaivasvata – Seventh Manvantara The seventh mavantara is the present phase in the evolution of solar system.
53. This manvatara refers to emergence of man. The word ‘Vaivasvata’ means Sun. According to Indian history, the solar dynasty or the Surya Vamsha was the first and one of the ancient dynasties known. Puranas tell that man emerged 120 million years ago.
54. The future manvantaras peep into a prediction of end of life and dissolution of earth and the Sun.
55. It is said that dissolution of sun takes place after 2347 million years after which all the land forms, oceans, mountains will go dry and the earth would completely get burnt and shattered.
56. Aryabhata has been a renowned Indian Astronomer and scientist of our Dharma. He has supported the Manvantara theory in his book ‘Aryabhatiya’ and has given the duration of revolution of Sun, planets and Yugas.
57. According to numerology, Aryabhata has narrated the Manvantara story in Gitika-pada as follows:- One day of Brahma = 14 Manus One Manu = 72 Mahayugas 58. Six Manus have already elapsed and the seventh Manu is the current one.
59. Twenty seven Maha-Yugas of the Seventh Manu have passed. 60. Satya-Yuga, Treta-Yuga and Dvapara-Yuga have also finished. 61. The last Kali-Yuga started at the end of Dvapara-Yuga as the Kurukshetra war ended.
62. The Manvantara theory of formation of solar system, as explained in ancient Hindu puranas, has got complete support of Aryabhata and his postulations. 63. Next Topic: Creation and Organization of Society
64. So today we start with "Creation and Organization of Society". This section is longer and so it will be tweeted over few days.
65. PuraaNa deal with the beginning of creation which is a long history. There are 18 + PuraaNas each with its own deity specific that recount the origin. A Purana describes five subjects:
66. 1) sarga (creation) 2) pratisarga (recreation) 3) vamsa (history of the sages) 4) manvantara (periods of Manu) 5) vamsanucarita (geneology of kings)
67. 1) Vishnu Purana with 23,000 verses has stories of various devotees; a description of varnasrama; the six angas of the Veda; a description of the age of Kali; description of Sveta-Varaha Kalpa, Vishnu dharmotara.
68. 2) Naradiya Purana has 25,000 verses. This Purana contains a synopsis of everything; it describes Jagannatha Puri, Dwaraka, Badrinatha, etc.
69. 3) Padma Purana with 55,000 verses contains the glory of Srimad-Bhagavatam; the stories of Rama, Jagannatha, Matsya, Ekadasi, Bhrgu, etc.
70. 4) Garuda Purana has 19,000 verses. It deals with the subject of Bhagavad-gita; reincarnation; visnu-sahasra-nama; description of Tarsya Kalpa. 71. 5) Varaha Purana with 24,000 verses describes different vratas; Lord Vishnu’s glories.
72. 6) Bhagavata Purana has 18,000 verses. (included by some in the mode of goodness) Puranas with Lord Brahma as the Predominating Deity (Rajo Guna): 73. 7) Brahmanda Purana with 12,000 verses describes the vedangas; describes the Adi Kalpa.
74. 8) Brahmavaivarta Purana has 18,000 verses and it contains the glories and pastimes of Radha and Krishna. 75. 9) Markandeya Purana with 9,000 verses deals with stories of Rama and Krishna.
76. 10) Bhavisya Purana has 14,500 verses is not a true PuraNa as it deals with future prediction of Lord Chaitanya. Future is unknown. 77. 11) Vamana Purana with 10,000 tells us the story of Lord Trivikrama.
78. 12) Brahma Purana – 10,000 verses Puranas with Lord Shiva as the Predominating Deity (Tamo Guna): 79. 13) Matsya Purana – 14,000 verses on Temple construction; describes Vamana and Varaha Kalpas.
80. 14) Kurma Purana – 17,000 verses. Contains the conversation between Krishna and the Sun-god (mentioned in Bhagavad-gita); Danvantari; Describes the Lakshmi Kalpa.
81. 15) Linga Purana has 10,000 verses speaking the glory of Lord Nrismhadeva; Janardhana; the story of Ambarisa; the glories of Gayatri. 82. 16) Shiva Purana – 24,000 verses. 83. 17) Skanda Purana has 81,000 verses.
84. 18) Agni Purana has 15,400 verses. Contains the description of Salagrama; Describes the Isana Kalpa. 85. I have taken Brahma Purana to describe the genesis.
86. Sage LomaharshaNa being question by the assembled rishis at the famous great sacrifice lasting for twelve years at Naimisha forest narrates the story that he had learnt from the all-knowing Vyasa his Guru. Here is the gist of what he said.
87. The puraaNa talks of what is called Pradhaana as the eternal unmanifest cause which is of the nature of sat (existent) and asat (non-existent). Purusha, the lord, evolved the universe out of it.
88. Pradhaana is made of triguNas called Satwam, Rajas and Thamas. When these three guNas are in equipoise the universe is said to be in unmaifest state. It was Purusha who disturbed Pradhaana’s equilibrium and thus set off the process of creation.
89. When the triguNas were unravelled there issued forth the Mahat or super-intelligence or great principle. Cosmic Ego (Ahaṃkaara) was born of Mahat. from Mahat, Bhootas (Elements) were born. Varieties of living beings were born of the Elements. Thus is the eternal creation.
90. The Self-born lord who was desirous of creating varieties of subjects from the unmanifest Pradhaana created waters alone at the outset. He instilled vigour in them. The waters are called Naraas (born of Nara—man); waters are the progeny of Nara.
91. At the outset, they were his place of resort. Hence he is remembered as NaraayaNa. A gold-wombed Egg took shape and floated on the waters.
92. Brahmaa himself was born there. We have heard that he is self-born. The gold-coloured lord stayed there for a year and then split the Egg into two—heaven and Earth. In the middle of these two halves the Lord created firmament.
93. He held the Earth floating on the waters. He created ten quarters, as well as mind, speech, love, anger and pleasure.
94. Desirous of evolving creation befitting these, he created Prajaapatis (Lords of subjects) viz. Marici, Atri, ANgiras, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu and VasishTha. Thus the lord of great refulgence created seven mental sons.
95. In the PuraaNas these are known as the sapta rishis. The subjects and Rudras were born of these seven. 96. Subsequent to the seven sons of Brahmaa who were identical with NaraayaNa, Brahmaa created Rudra out of his fury.
97. He created the divine lord Sanatkumaara who was the eldest of all his previous sons. 98. Skanda and Sanatkumaara stayed there condensing their brilliance. Seven great families of divine nature comprising the groups of Devas were born of seven Brahmaas.
99. They had progeny and they performed holy rites. The families were adorned by great sages. Brahmaa created lightning, thunder, clouds, saffron-coloured rainbows, birds and Parjanya (lord of clouds) at the outset. He composed Ṛks, Yajus and Saaman for conducting sacrifices.
100. We have heard that he created Saadhyas and other Devas. Living beings high and low were born of his limbs. 101. Even when Prajaapati had created such an extensive horde of progeny, the created subjects did not multiply. Then he split his body into two halves.
102. One half became a man and the other half a woman. The man begot of the woman different kinds of subjects. 103. With his grandeur he pervaded heaven and Earth and stored by VishNu created Viraat (an immense being) and Viraat created Purusha.
103. Know that Manu was that Purusha. The Manvantara the ruling period of Manu is the second one of Manu, the mental son of Brahmaa.
104. That Vairaaja (Son of Viraat) Purusha, lord of creation of the subjects, was the lord who created. The subjects created during NaraayaNa’s creation as well as Manu’s were not born of the womb.
105. Aapava that pure one who was Purusha and Prajaapati was none other than Soorya the brilliant one and he was desirous of creating subjects.
106. His wife was सञ्ज्ञा the anonymous because she was bodiless who later became Shatarupa (of many bodies), an अयोनिज lady (lady not born of any womb) as his wife who performed a severe penance for 10000 years and obtained as her husband that Purusha of bright penance.
107. With his grandeur, Aapava pervaded heaven and stood by. Then, O excellent sages, Shataroopaa was delivered of her progeny righteously.
108. O brahmins, that Purusha is now called Svaayambhuva Manu (Manu born of the self born lord). His Manvantara consisted of seventy-one cycles of Yugas. Each cycle of yugas is known as Maha Yuga sometimes mistakenly called Kalpa. May be it can be called a small Kalpa.
109. Shataroopaa bore to Vairaaja Purusha the heroic sons Priyavrata and Uttaanapaada. After the heroic sons (a daughter) Kaamyaa was born. Kaamyaa became the wife of Kardama Prajaapati.
110. The sons of Kaamyaa were four viz. Samraat, Kukshi, Viraat and Prabhu. Prajaapati Atri adopted Uttaanapaada as his son. Soonrtaa bore four sons to Uttaanapaada. Soonrtaa was the charming daughter of Dharma.
111. She was born as a result of horse sacrifice. She was the illustrious mother of Dhruva. 112. The narration will be continued tomorrow.
113. Let me continue with the "Creation and Organization of Society" @akhivis 114. Prajaapati Uttaanapaada begot four sons of Soonrtaa viz. Dhruva, Kirtimaan, Aayushmaan and Vasu.
115. The highly blessed Dhruva, seeking very great fame, performed penance for three thousand divine years. Prajaapati Brahmaa being delighted gave him a stable abode, on par with his own in front of seven sages. Druva Nakshatram is eternally used by the seamen.
116. Shambhu bore to Dhruva (two sons) viz. Shlishti and Bhavya. Succhaayaa bore five noble sons to Shlishti. They were Ripu, Puranjaya, Putra, Vrkala and Vrkatejas. Brhati bore to Ripu the son Caaksusha who had an all round splendour.
117. He begot Caakshusa Manu of PuskariNi, VairiNi the daughter of AraNya the Prajaapati of great soul. Ten sons of great prowess were born to Manu and Nadvalaa the daughter of Prajaapati Vairaaja.
118. The first nine were Kutsa, Puru, Shatadyumna, Tapasvin, Satyavaak, Kavi, Agnishtubh, Atiraatra and Sudyumna. The tenth was Abhimanyu. These sons of great prowess were born of Nadvalaa. Aagneyi bore six sons of great lustre to Puru.
119. They were Anga, Sumanas, Khyaati, Kratu, Angiras and Gaya. Sunithaa bore to Anga a single son Vena. There was a great uproar due to the misdemeanour of Vena. For procreating progeny the sages churned his right thigh.
120. A mighty king was born when his thigh was churned. On seeing him the sages declared: “This king will make his subjects delighted. His refulgence is great. He will earn great renown.” He was born equipped with a bow and a coat of mail.
121. He was as lustrous as the burning fire: Prthu, the son of Vena protected this Earth. He was the oldest of Kshatriyas. He was the first and foremost of those whose coronations were performed with a Raajasooya yaga. He was the overlord of the Earth.
122. The intelligent Soota and Magadha were born of being desirous of securing the means of subsistence for his subjects, the king (Prthu) milked this Earth in the form of a cow.
123. O excellent sages, the king milked the cow along with Devas, sages, Pitrs, Daanavas, Gandharvas, Apsaras, serpents, PuNyajanas, creepers etc. On being milked by them the Earth gave them as much milk as could fill up their vessels.
124. They sustained their lives thereby, At the end of sacrifice, two righteous sons were born to Prthu viz Antardhi and Paatin.
125. ShikhaNdini bore Havirdhaana to Antardhaana (i.e. Antardhi). DhishaNaa, the daughter of Agni, bore six sons to Havirdhaana viz Praacinabarhish, Shukra, Gaya, KṛshNa, Vraja and Ajina. Lord Praacinabarhish was a great Prajaapati.
126. After Havirdhaana, O excellent sages, it was lord Praacinabarhish by whom the subjects moving about on the Earth were brought up and made to flourish.
127. After concluding the rigorous penance on the shore (of the ocean), the king married SavarNaa the daughter of the ocean. SavarNaa, the daughter of the ocean, bore ten sons to Praacinabarhish. They were called Pracetas.
128. They were well-versed in archery. Performing holy rites jointly they practiced a great penance for ten thousand years lying submerged under the waters of the ocean.
129. While the Pracetas were performing penance, the Earth was left unguarded. Hence the trees overgrew the Earth and enveloped it. Thereby, the destruction of subjects set in. The trees grew so dense that the wind was unable to blow.
130. For ten thousand years the subjects were unable even to stir. All the Pracetas who were performing penance heard about it. They became furious and generated wind and fire through their mouths.
131. The wind uprooted the trees and desiccated them. The terrible fire burned them. Thus the trees were destroyed. 132. On knowing that the trees were being destroyed and that only a few of them remained, Soma approached the Prajaapatis and said:
133. O kings, O son of Praacinabarhish, restrain your wrath. The Earth has been denuded of trees. May your fury and fire be subdued. 134. This girl of excellent complexion is the jewel of the forest. She had been held by me in my womb as I was aware of the future.
135. This daughter of the forest is Maarishaa by name. O highly blessed ones, may she be your wife. May she raise the lunar race. For this purpose alone she has been created.
136. With half the splendour pertaining to you and with half of my splendour, the learned Prajaapati named Daksha will be born of her.
137. He is on par with Agni. He will make this Earth and the subjects flourish once again. He will develop this Earth, practically burned out by the fiery splendour pertaining to you.
138. Then, at the instance of Soma, the ascetics restrained their fury towards the trees and accepted Maarishaa as their lawfully wedded wife. 139. O brahmins, with a part of Soma, Daksha Prajaapati of great splendour was born of Maarishaa and the ten Pracetas.
140. After mentally creating the immobile and mobile beings, the bipeds and the quadrupeds, Daksha created women. 141. Lord Daksha gave ten of his daughters to Dharma, thirteen to Kashyapa, the remaining (twenty-seven) named after twenty-seven constellations to king Soma.
142. Devas, birds, cows, serpents, Daityas, Danavas, Gandharvas, Apsaras & other classes of people were born of them. 143. It was only after this the procreation by means of sexual intercourse began.The subjects before are said to be born of mental conception, sight or touch.
144. The Sages said: Indeed, Daksha of auspicious rites was born of the right thumb of Brahmaa. His wife was born of the left thumb. How could Daksha of great penance be born of Pracetas? O Soota, please clarify our doubt.
145. How did the grandson of Soma attain the status of his father-in-law? 146. LomaharshaNa said: O brahmins, origin and annihilation do occur continuously among living beings.
147. Sages and other learned people are not deluded in this respect.Dakshas and other beings are born in every Yuga. They are annihilated afterwards. A learned man does not become deluded thereby.
148. O excellent brahmins, formerly there was neither seniority nor juniorship (conditioned by time). Penance alone was the important factor. Power was the cause (of this consideration)
149. The Sages said: O LomaharshaNa recount in details the origin of Devas, Daanavas, Gandharvas, Raakshasas and serpents. LomaharshaNa said: Formerly, Prajaapati Daksha was directed by the self-born lord (who said) “create subjects.” O brahmins now listen how he created them.
150. The Prajaapati created living beings mentally. He created sages, Gandharvas, Asuras, Yakshas and Raakshasas. 151. O brahmins, when his mental progeny did not multiply, the virtuous Prajaapati began to ponder over ways and means of increasing subjects.
152. He became desirous of creating variety subjects by the process of sexual intercourse. He took Asikni the daughter of Prajaapati ViraNa as his wife. She was endowed with the power of penance. She, the great was capable of sustaining the worlds.
153. Prajaapati Daksha the great begot five thousand sons of Asikni the daughter of ViraNa.
154. On seeing those highly blessed sons desirous of increasing the subjects, the celestial sage Naarada of sweet tongue spoke to them certain words (of निवृति (abandonment in pursuit of the knowledge of the Self)
155. which brought their destruction as progenies and invited a curse for himself. Formerly Sage Kashyapa was afraid of Daksha’s curse, hence he procreated the more excellent son (Naarada) in the daughter of Daksha.
156. This Naarada was the son of Brahmaa formerly. Like his father Brahmaa, Daksha again created Naarada in his wife Asikni the daughter of ViraNa. Daksha’s sons Haryashvas were completely destroyed by Brahmaa. Daksha of unmeasured exploits attempted to destroy Brahmaa.
157. Keeping the Brahmanical sages ahead he was requested by the latter not to be angry. Daksha then made a compromise with Brahmaa. “May Naarada be born of my daughter as your son.” Then Daksha gave his beloved daughter to Brahmaa.
158. Fearful of being cursed again Sage Naarada was born of her. 159. The Sages said: O lord, how were the sons of Prajaapati destroyed by Naarada the great sage? We wish to hear all about it factually.
160. LomaharshaNa said: Haryashvas, the extremely powerful sons of Daksha arrived (at a spot near the sea) desirous of making the subjects multiply: Naarada spoke to them.
161. “Alas, all of you are very puerile. You do not know the magnitude and extent of this Earth. Still, O sons of Pracetas you are desirous of creating subjects.
162. But how will you create the subjects within it, above it and below it? On hearing his words they wandered in all directions.
163. They have not returned so far like rivers merging into the sea. When Haryashvas vanished, lord Daksha, son of Pracetas procreated a thousand sons in the daughter of ViraNa. They were known as Shabalaashvas.
164. I will continue with the discourse tomorrow.
165. I am continuing my discourse on our PuraNa. @akhivis 166. They were also desirous of multiplying the subjects, Naarada spoke to them as he had spoken to Haryashvas. They told one another.
167. The great sage said pertinently: let us trace out our brothers. When we have found them out and ascertained the extent of the Earth, we shall easily create the subjects.”
168. They too went in all directions along the same path. Till today they have not returned like rivers flowing into oceans.
169. Ever since then, O brahmins, a brother who goes in search of a lost brother perishes himself. Thus a wise brother should not go in search of his lost brother.
170. On realising that they too had perished. Prajaapati Daksha procreated sixty daughters in the daughters of ViraNa. This we have heard. 171. O brahmins Kashyapa, lord Soma, Dharma and other sages took them as their wives.
172. He gave ten daughters to Dharma, thirteen to Kashyapa, twenty-seven to Soma, four to Arishṭanemi, two to Bahuputra, two to Angiras and two to Kṛshaashva. Now listen to their names.
173. The ten wives of Dharma were Arundhati, Vasu, Yami, Lambaa, Baalaa, Marutvati, Sankalpaa, Muhoortaa, Saadhyaa and Vishvaa. O brahmins, understand the children born of these. Vishvedevas were born of Vishvaa. Saadhyaa gave birth to Saadhyas, Marutvats were born of Marutvati.
174. Vasus were the sons of Vasu, Bhaanus were the sons of Bhaanu, Muhoortas were born of Muhoortaa, Ghosha was the son of Lambaa. Naagavithi was the daughter of Yami; objects of the Earth were born of Arundhati.
175. Samkalpa, the soul of the universe was born of Samkalpaa; Vrshala was born of Naagavithi the daughter of Yami. 176. Daksha, the son of Pracetas, gave his daughter in marriage to Soma: All those are named after constellations. They are glorified in the Astral Science.
177. Those others who are known as Devas going ahead of luminaries are the eight Vasus. I shall mention them in detail. 178. Aapa, Dhruva, Soma, Dhava, (or Dhruva), Anila, Anala, Pratyoosha and Prabhaasa are the names of Vasus.
179. Aapa’s sons were VaitaNdya, Shrama, Sraanta and Muni. Dhruva’s son was Kaala who reckons time in the world. 180. Soma’s son was Varcas whereby people become refulgent. DraviNa and Hutahavyavaaha were the sons of Dhava. Manoharaa’s sons were Shishira, PraaNa and RamaNa. .
181. Shivaa was the wife of Anila. Her son was Manojava. Anila had two sons: Manojava and Avijnaatagati. 182. Agni’s son Kumaara was enveloped by splendour in the cluster of Shara reeds. His sons were Shaakha, Vishaakha and Naigameya.
183. He was the adopted son of Kṛttikaas. Hence he was called Kaarttikeya. They say that the sage Devala was the son of Pratyoosha.
184. Devala had two sons endowed with knowledge and forbearance. Bṛhaspati’s sister Yogasiddhaa was excellent lady who expounding the Brahman wandered over the entire world. She was detached at first, but later on she became the wife of Prabhaasa the eighth among the Vasus.
185. The highly blessed Prajaapati Vishvakarman was born of her. He was a carpenter of Devas and the architect of thousands of arts and crafts. 186. He was the maker of all ornaments and the most excellent among the artisans. It was he who made the aerial chariots for Devas.
187. Human beings too subsist on the works of art of that great architect. 188. Surabhi bore eleven Rudras to Kashyapa. 189. That chaste lady sanctified by her penance (gave them birth) by the grace of Mahaadeva.
190. They were Ajaikapaada, Ahirbudhnya, Tvashtaar, Rudra the powerful, Hara, Bahuroopa, Tryambaka, Aparaajita, Vrshaakapi, Shambhu, Kapardi, Raivata, Mrgavyaadha, Sharva and Kapaalin. O excellent brahmins, these are the eleven well-known Rudras – lords of the universe.
191. A century of these Rudras of unmeasured strength has been mentioned in the PuraaNas. O leading sages, the entire universe consisting of the mobile and immobile beings is pervaded by them.
192. O leading brahmins, now listen to the names of the wives of Prajaapati Kashyapa. They are Aditi, Diti, Danu, Arishṭaa, Surasaa, Khasaa, Surabhi, Vinataa, Taamraa, Krodhavashaa, Iraa, Kadroo and Muni. O brahmins, know the children born of them.
193. In the previous Manvantara there were twelve magnificent and excellent Devas named Tushitas. When the Vaivasvata Manvantara was imminent they told one another thus—
194. “During the Manvantara of Caakshusha Manu of great fame, O Devas, all of you shall gather together for the welfare of the world. Come quickly ye all and enter the womb of Aditi. We shall be born then. It will be to our welfare and advantage”
195. After saying thus they of prolific refulgence were born of Aditi and Kashyapa in the Caakshusha Manvantara.
196. VishNu and Shakra (Indra) were born again then. The following are the twelve Aadityas: Aryaman, Dhaatar, Tvashtaar, Pooshan, Vivasvan, Savitri, Mitra, VaruNa, Amsha and Bhaga of great splendour along with VishNu and Shakra.
197. In the Caakshusha Manvantara they were known as Tushitas. In the Vaivasvata Manvantara they are called Aaditya. 198. Brilliant children of unmeasured splendour were born of those ladies of holy rites who had been mentioned as the twenty-seven wives of Soma.
199. The wives of Arishṭanemi had sixteen children. The four Vidyuts were the sons of Bahuputra the wise sage. In the previous Caakshusha Manvantara Rks were honoured by the brahmin sages. DevapraharaNas are known as the children of Krshaashva, the celestial sage.
200. These are born again at the end of a thousand cycles of four Yugas, these are the groups of Devas. Thirty-three of them are born of Kaama.
201. O brahmins, annihilation and origin are said to befall them too. Just as the sun rises and sets in the firmament so also the groups of Devas in every Yuga. 202. We have heard that two sons were born to Diti.
203. They were HiraNyakashipu and HiraNyaaksha. A daughter named Siṃhikaa was also born to her. She became the wife of Vipracitti. Her sons of great strength are known as Saimhikeyas. HiraNyakashipu had four sons of well reputed prowess.
204. They were Hraada, Anuhraada, Prahraada ( or Prahlaada) and Samhraada. Hraada was the son of Hrada. 205. Hraada’s sons were Maayaavi, Shiva and Kaala. Virocana was the son of Prahraada, Bali was the son of Virocana.
206. O ascetics, Bali had hundred sons of whom BaaNa was the eldest. (The most important of them are) Kumbhanaabha, Gardabhaaksha, Dhrtaraashtra, Soorya, Candramas, Indrataapana, and Kukshi. BaaNa was the eldest and the strongest amongst them. He was a devotee of Shiva.
207. In a former Kalpa, BaaNa propitiated lord Shiva and begged for this boon “I shall sport about at vour side.”
208. HiraNyaaksha had five sons. They were both scholars and warriors. They were—Bharbhara, Shakuni, Bhoota, Santapana, Mahaanaabha of great exploits and Kaalanaabha.
209. Danu had a hundred sons of energetic exploits. They were ascetics of great prowess. I shall enumerate the most important, among them.
210. They are Dvimoordhaa, ShankukarNa, Hayashiras, Ayomukha, Shambara, Kapila, Vaamana, Maarici, Maghavan, Ilvala, ShrmaNa, VikshobhaNa, Ketu, Ketuvirya, Shatahrada, Indrajit, Sarvajit, Vajranaabha, Ekacakra, Mahaabaahu, Taaraka of great strength,
211. Vaishvaanara, Puloman, VidraavaNa Mahaashiras, Svarbhaanu, Vrshaparva, Vipracitti of great virility. These sons of Danu were begotten by Kashyapa.
212. Vipracitti was the chief among Daanavas of great strength. O excellent brahmins, it is not possible to enumerate their children because they are too numerous.
213. The sons and grandsons were also too many to mention. Prabhaa was the daughter of Svarbhaanu, Shaci was the daughter of Puloman.
214. Upadaanavi was the daughter of Hayashiras, Sharmishthaa was the daughter of Vrshaparvan, Puloman and Kaalakaa were the two daughters of Vaishvaanara.
215. They were the wives of Marici. They had great strength and they bore many children. They had sixty thousand sons who delighted Daanavas. Marici who performed a very great penance, procreated another fourteen hundred sons who stayed in the city of HiraNyapura.
216. The Daanavas named Paulomas (Sons of Pulomaa) and Kaalakeyas (Sons of Kaalakaa) were very terrible. Vipracitti’s sons were born of Simhikaa. Due to the admixture of Daityas and Daanavas they became valorous and powerful.
217. Thirteen very powerful Saimhikeyas were known as Vamshya, Shalya, Nala, Bala, Vaataapi, Namuci, Ilvala, SrmaNa, Anjika, Naraka, Kaalanaabha, Saramaana and the powerful Svarakalpa. 218. Mooshaka and HuNda were the sons of Hrada.
219. Maarica the son of Sunda was born of Taadakaa. (They were killed by Rama.) These are the excellent Daanavas who made the race of Danu flourish.
220. Their sons and grandsons were hundreds and thousands. The Nivaatakavacas were born in the family of Daitya Samhraada who had purified his soul by observing penance. The highly blessed Vaidyutas are reputed to have been born to Taamraa.
221. They had three crores of sons and they resided in MaNivati. 222. It was difficult for Devas to kill them. They were struck down by Arjuna (the PaaNdava.) 223. The discourse will be continued tomorrow.
224. Let me continue with the discourse on our PuraNa. 225. (Taamraa’s daughters were) Kraunci, Shyeni, Bhaasi, Sugrivi, Shuci and Grdhri. Kraunci gave birth to owls and crows, Shyeni to hawks and falcons,
226. Bhaasi to Bhaasas (vultures, cocks), Grdhri to Gṛdhras (vultures), Shuci to aquatic birds, Sugrivi to horses, camels and donkeys. Thus listen to the race of Taamraa.
227. Vinataa had two sons—Garuda and AruNa. Garuḍa is the most excellent among the flying birds. He is very terrible in his activities.
228. Surasaa’s children were a thousand serpents of unmeasured prowess and many heads. O brahmins, they move about in the firmament and they are noble souls. The sons of Kadroo were very strong and had unmeasured strength and prowess. They were one thousand in number.
229. The multiheaded Naagas of mighty valour were born. They were under the control of Garuda. The most important of these were:
230. Shesha, Vaasuki, Takshaka, Airaavata, Mahaapadma, Kambala, Ashvatara, Elaapatra, Shaṅkha, Karkoṭaka, Dhananjaya, Mahaanila, MahaakarNa, Dhrtaraashtra, Balaahaka, Kuhara, Pushpadamshatra, Durmukha, Sumukha, Shankha, Shankhapaala, Kapila,
231. Vaamana, Nahusha, Shankharoman, MaNi and others. 232. Their sons and grandsons were in hundreds and thousands. There were fourteen thousand cruel snakes which live on air.
233. O brahmins, there is a group called Krodhavasha. These have terrible fangs. The birds on land are infinite. They are the progeny of Earth. 234. Surabhi gave birth to cows and buffaloes, Iraa gave birth to trees, creepers, plants and species of grass all round.
235. Khashaa gave birth to Yakshas and Raakshasas, Muni gave birth to Apsaras (celestial damsels); Arishtaa gave birth to Gandharvas of immense prowess and unmeasured energy.
236. Thus these descendants of Kashyapa consisting of mobile and immobile beings have been related. Their sons and grandsons are in hundreds and thousands.
237. O brahmins, this creation existed in the Svaarocisha Manvantara; what follows occurred in the Vaivasvata Manvantara. Brahmaa commenced a big and extensive sacrifice pertaining to VaruNa.
238. Listen to the creation of subjects in the course of sacrifice whom Brahmaa himself had created as his sons from his mind in the previous Kalpa.
239. O brahmins, then ensued the mutual animosity between Devas and Daanavas in which Diti lost all her sons. She propitiated Kashyapa with great devotion; duly honoured and served by her, Kashyapa was highly pleased. He permitted her to ask for a boon.
240. She requested him for a son of unmeasured prowess who would be capable of killing Indra. 241. On being requested thus, Kashyapa of great austerity granted her boon.
242. After granting the boon Kashyapa spoke to her—“Your son will kill Indra if you retain the foetus for a hundred autumns maintaining cleanliness and performing rites.”
243. O excellent sages, “So shall it be” said that gentle lady with devotion (to her lord) of great austerity. Maintaining cleanliness she conceived. 244. After impregnating Diti Kashyapa returned. He desired for an excellent group of Devas of unmeasured prowess.
244. After withdrawing his invincible splendour that could not be destroyed even by the immortal beings he went to a mountain resolving to perform penance and holy rites.
245. The chastiser (Indra) of Paaka stood waiting for a loophole to gain entry within Diti. The unswerving Indra saw a loophole when the century of years nearly came to a close. Without washing her feet Diti went to bed and slept. Indra entered her belly.
246. Armed with his thunderbolt he cut the foetus into seven parts. On being split by the thunderbolt the foetus groaned. “Maa rodiḥ” (Do not cry) said Indra to the child. It split into seven parts.
247. The infuriated Indra, the suppressor of enemies further cut each of these pieces into seven more pieces by means of his thunderbolt. O excellent brahmins, those children later on came to be known as Maruts.
248. They became Maruts according to what Indra had said. These forty-nine Devas became the associates of Indra, the wielder of thunderbolt.
249. O excellent brahmins, Hari desired for an excellent group of Devas of unmeasured prowess with these functioning as such. He allotted Prajaapatis for each multitude. Gradually, the kingdoms with Prthu at the head were organized.
250. That Hari is the heroic Purusha, KrshNa, VishNu, Prajaapati, Parjanya, Tapana and Ananta. The whole universe belongs to him. O excellent brahmins, there is no fear of recession unto him who knows perfectly this creation of living beings.
251. Whence can be fear for the other world? 252. The word तित्तिरि is mentioned along with a legend in Taithiriya Samhitha (will be referred to as TS hereafter). The word also occurs in Rg Veda (RV). A paraphrase of the legend in TS is as follows:
253. Tvashtr is the divine architect who creates a variety of forms both according to RV and TS. His son or creation, viz. विश्वरूप, the all-form had three heads; with one head he imbibed Soma, the delight of existence; with the second he drank sura, the liquor;
254. and with the third head he ate food (anna). Indra realising the dangers of विश्वरूप becoming all-powerful separated the three heads. The head, which imbibed Soma, became कापिञ्जल; that which drank sura became कलविङ्क ) and that which ate food became तित्तिरि (parridge).
255. The text mentions only these names and does not specify that they are birds though they are known to be birds. कापिञ्जल means rays of spiritual Sun, (का : who, पिञ् : drinks, जल : waters);
256. it is synonym of the chataka bird which drinks the waters coming directly from the sky before it touches the earth. Kalavingka means one who destroy s (ल) the knowings (विङ्क).
257. To understand तित्तिरि, note that it occurs in RV (1.36.7) as titir- vamsa. Sri Kapali Sastry in his Rig Veda Bhashya translates it as “that which overcomes the foes (such as ignorance).”
258. The symbolism behind the legend is easy to understand. The three heads correspond to the three types of beings namely gods or devah, demons like Vrtra and finally naras. (Both asura and nara have a human body.)
259. The Gods made of Light enjoy the Delight or Soma; the demons like liquor; naras depend on food. Indra the lord of Divine Mind foresees that if this All-form (विश्वरूप) should become all-powerful, the demonic head would become all powerful.
260. Hence he separates the three heads even in their formative stages. The form which came from the gods merged or became the rays of spiritual Sun (कापिञ्जल); the demonic form rejoined the forces of ignorance which hide the knowledge and energies from the humans.
261. Recall that तित्तिरि is said to come from the head which eats anna, i.e., it represents the naras. Thus तित्तिरि symbolises the forces or beings which help human beings in getting the knowledge which overcomes the psychological foes such as ignorance and falsehood.
262. This title gives an excellent clue to the contents of TS. 263. I will continue with the narration tomorrow.
264. I will conclude this chapter today 265. Earlier we saw the origin of Deva, asura and nara from the hatham or killing of Trisiras or विश्वरूप as he was called as was narrated in the Rg Veda.
266. Now we are going to see a variation to their origin in the following story from Shukla Yajur veda, more specifically in its Satapatha Brahmana and Brihadhaaranyaka Upanishad.
267. FOOTNOTES: Nara-NaraayaNa:—Later epics and kaavyas speak of Nara as Arjuna and NaraayaNa as KrshNa. According to Mbh. Shaanti Parva (Ch. 384) Nara and NaraayaNa were the two incarnations of MahaavishNu.
268. According to another Tradition Nara and NaraayaNa were the two sages who did penance for thousands of years in the Badarikaashrama in the Himaalayas.
269. Sarasvati: The goddess of Speech and Learning is Brahma's wife.
270. NarayaNa: This is an old concept that a single entity—NaraayaNa—was conceived as consisting of three forms: Brahmaa, VishNu and Shiva, representing the three qualities—Rajas, Sattva and Tamas respectively.
271. The three are assigned separately the work of creation, existence and dissolution.
272. Naimisha or Naimisha is situated on the left bank of Gomati in the Sitapur district, U. P. The place is so called because the rim of the revolving wheel of Virtue was shattered here and virtue had to make a permanent abode in this region (Vaayu PuraNa).
273. Or the place is so called because here an army of Asuras was destroyed by Sage Gauramukha in a twinkling of eye (Varaaha PuraNa). According to Matsya PuraNa, it was situated at the confluence of Gomati and Gangaa.
274. The place was sacred in Krta age, as Pushkara in Tretaa, Kurukshetra in Dvaapara and Gangaa in Kali. Kaathaka Samhitaa, Kaushitaki BraahmaNa, Chaandogya Upanishad refer to it. The RaamaayaNa states that Raama performed Ashvamedha here.
275. RomaharshaNa LomaharshaNa: a famous disciple of Vyaasa to whom Vyaasa gave the collection of PuraaNas, RomaharshaNa had six disciples: Sumati, Agnivarcas, Mitraayus, Shaaṃshapaayana, AkṛtavraNa and SaavarNi.Bhaarata:
276. The original name of the Mahaabhaarata was Jaya composed by Vyaasa. It consisted of eight thousand and eight hundred verses. Vaishampaayana added fifteen thousand two hundred stanzas and the book was named Bharata.
277. When Soota recited this book to the hermits in the Naimisha forest, the book had one lakh of stanzas. Hence, it was called Mahaabhaarata.
278. PuraaNa: Originally the word was used collectively for the sacred treatises which described Creation, Re-creation, Genealogies of Kings, Ages of Manus, History of rulers and distinguished persons.
279. Later on, with the addition of more matter, it became an Encyclopaedia of General knowledge related to different subjects, divided and subdivided into PuraaNas and Upa-PuraaNas. For details see Epics end PuraaNas of India: Pusalkar and Majumdar.
280. HiraNyagarbha: Brahmaa was born from the golden-egg formed out of the seed deposited in the waters— Manusmriti 1.9. The word is often used in the Veda.
281. Paraashara, father of Vyaasa from Satyavati, the fisherman’s daughter with whom he had an intercourse without marriage. This girl, later on, married Shantanu, king of Hastinaapura.
